chapter VII

Rumplestiltskin awoke to a strange sound,maybe he was dreaming, he tried to go back to sleep. There it was again."What is that?" he mumbled. Rumple breathed deeply as his eyes fluttered open."aahh!"Sunlight invaded his senses, that was then that he realized he wasn't in his room. He was still in Belle's. The events of last night ran through his mind as he tried to block out the invading rays that threatened to burn his eyes from thier very sockets. he looked over, Empty. "Where is she?"he wondered,the sound came again and this time he realized what it was.

Slowly he pushed the door to the wash room open and there was Belle down on her knees heaving into a pot."Oh gods" Rumple thought as he got a cold ,wet rag and brought it over to her. She accepted it but didn't look up.

Rumple decided his best course of action was to leave her alone. After all if he were in her situation,he thought,servant, victim,forced into carrying some monsters child, She probably didn't want to see him at this moment,so he just returned to the bedroom,dressing quickly and quietly so as to avoid the present state of things , even though he was the cause of it,he slipped out the door.

Belle seen him disappear out of the doorway as she went back to bed. "Good." she said. She felt awful and wasnt in the mood to face him just now. She got a drink and thought she might go ahead and get up ,but decided it wasn't worth the effort and layed back down.

Belle awoke to the sound of tapping at her door. "Belle?" Rumple called from the hall."Are you awake dearie?"He opened the door and peaked in. Belle was laying on her side facing him. she raised her head with a frown on her face. "What did he want?"she thought. Almost timidly Rumplestiltskin entered the room,he was carrying a tea tray,he placed it on her bedside table."I-uh, I thought you might need some tea."he looked down at her. she sat up on the side of the bed, and as she did her stomach rolled again, but she held it at bay. Rumple giggled, not unlike a child and Belle looked at him crossly."and what was so funny" she wanted to say. "You look as green as me."Rumple chirpped as he turned his head sideways at her. At that Belle smiled at him. She had to admit she felt pretty green.

The next few months were pretty hard on Belle physically. the sickness took over for several more weeks. Rumple made brews for her that helped, but they tasted awful. He wanted her to drink them, but he didn't force her. he vowed he wasn't going to force anything on Belle again.

Soon the days grew short as winter came to Dark Castle,Belle was starting to feel better so she would venture out of her room more. Rumple hadn't let her do much, not that she could have. She spent most of her days in either the library, or her room,she had gone through most of the books Rumple had gotten for her, which left her more often than not, alone with only her thoughts to comfort her. Most days, Belle felt like a prisioner going to her own execution,she had all her choices taken from her,she thought as she looked out the window of the library. the snow begin to fall on the castle grounds below, by midday a full blown storm of snow had hit.

A few tears collected in Belle's eyes as her hand rubbed at the bump forming in her middle. Not only were her choices taken, but the child would be too. Belle wiped the tears off as they hit her cheek,determined not to wallow in misery.A deal had been struck. She had no choice but to give Rumplestiltskin her child and she would have to leave, where would she go?she thought about it. Not back to her father, that was was the only thing Belle was sure of.

That evening, Belle emerged from her santuiary to the main hall. Rumplestiltskin was at his spinning wheel when she entered the room. Belle noticed he looked deep in thought ,so she cleared her throat to capture his attention.

Rumple had been deep in thought before Belle had got there. when Rumple was at his spinning wheel, he thought about his first son,Bae. He smiled to himself as he remembered how beautiful he was. Happy memories of thier previous lives together, before the darkness flooded his mind. they were so much better than the dark memories of Bae being sucked down into a vortex as thier hands are pulled apart,ripping Bae from this world. Rumple hadn't heard Belle enter, till she coughed.

He stood up with his fingers fanned out, pressing his hands together."Ahh,Belle" he smiled at her. Belle returned the smile. "Please, sit." Rumple said, as he came around his spinning wheel and offered her a seat at the dinning table. Belle pulled herself up to the table as dinner was spread out before her.'I-uh want to check on your progress after dinner" Rumple began. "I've noticed you have been feeling better and your showing now."He cast a glance at Belle's growing belly. Belle looked down as she rubbed a hand across the baby bunp. She was showing. Belle had been thinking about something and she wanted to talk to Rumple about it,but wasn't sure how to bring it up.

After a quiet dinner, Belle took a seat by the fire, watching the flames dance, all the glowing embers were making her feel very sleepy, she heard her name called but it seemed miles away, like a dream."Belle?"Rumple put his hand on he arm, it startled her out of her dozing state, she smiled at him ,seeing the worried look on his features. "I didn't mean to frighten ,I-uh wanted to check the baby's progress." Belle started to stand but Rumple kneeled beside her chair. 'Just sit,Belle."He whispered to her,he handed Belle a cup of tea,she took it and sipped.

Belle decided to talk to Rumple about the thoughts she had concerning the baby."I want to ask you for something?"

"Yes?" Rumple leaned closer,"A deal perhaps?"He grinned at Belle,she pouted her lips at him ,then she shyly smiled at his joke.

"Our deal was I would leave when the child was born."she stated. Rumple knotted his eyebrows as he listened."I wanted to give our child something,I uh,I want a room"

"A room?"Rumple questioned.

"A nursery,for the baby."Belle whispered."I want to decorate it, So he will have something from me."Belle looked at Rumplestiltskin as he glanced down at her belly then returned his gaze to her,She couldn't quite decern what he might be thinking.

"I know he won't remember me"Belle said,she could feel tears threatening."I just feel alittle out of place,since you won't let me do anything."

"Belle" Rumple said as he looked down at his hands,"You can have any room you want, I just don't think in your condition that you should do any...work."

"But I'm feeling better"Belle reasoned"making a nursery isn't going to be hard."

"I could make you anything you desire for his room."Rumple tried to intervine.

"No, I want it to be from me,since I don't get to be there." Belle's voice lowered. She looked at Rumple with pleading eyes.

"Oh"Rumple whispered."Well, first things first." Rumple tried to change the subject."shall we?"He held his hand over her growing belly. Belle put down her cup and not really knowing what to do with her hands,she placed them on the arms of the chair.

Rumplestiltskin gently layed his hand across her stomach. He slowly began rubbing his hand in gentle circles,She suddenly felt that warm magic his hand provided along with that unusual smell."I knew it" Belle smiled to herself,she knew for certain that the smell appeared when Rumple used his magic. she looked at him , his eyes were closed as he concentrated.

Rumplestiltskin stretched out his magic into Belle's womb much like his hand stretched out across her skin. Feelings , senses...this would be how he would describe what he saw in his mind.

The child was indeed a son,Rumple had made sure of that in the beginning. Love? ...Rumple could feel the emotion of love...the child loved Belle, thats what he felt, well, almost like that,in his mind. Thats the sense he got. also the baby was healthy and growing, he sensed that clearly. He smiled as Belle watched him.

A piece of hair had fallen over his eyes as he bowed his head a bit, Belle resisted the urge to touch it and move it out of the way. this was the first time he had phyically touched her since that last night they had spent together,when he had held her and stayed with her.

Belle reached over to get her tea, not knowing what else to do with her hands,as she put the cup to her lips something unexpected happened,something wonderful,the baby kicked. the movement surprised Belle and she dropped the tea cup. The sound surprised Rumple as he opened his eyes to Belle's cup hitting the floor,and Belle's big blue eyes looking at him."Did you do that?"she asked looking bewildered."NO,"Rumple smiled at her,"I believe that was our son."

Thier eyes locked as Rumple's words made thier impact. Belle's expression softened as she looked down. Rumplestiltskin reluctently pulled his hand back as he made a move to get up,then he remembered the cup Belle had dropped, he retrieved it. He noticed that a chip was in the cup where it had impacted with the floor. "OH, I'm so sorry.'Belle said as she examined the cup he handed to her. Rumple smiled at her."It's just a cup ,dearie." they smiled at each other, thinking of the reason for the chip.